Rambling Man's Reviews

  Words by Anselm Anderson The blog continues to discover incredible new bands on British shores, and none are more impressive than the latest LP from the Welsh blues rock trio, Cry For Mercy. The band is set to release "This Machine" on Friday, April 4th. Cry For Mercy also self-funded this 12-track album on their path to recognition. The release showcases the drive and determination of the group through raw emotion and thought-provoking storytelling. They have been described as "Classic 70's fused blues rock" with a modern sound. I  agree with that sentiment as the trio blend soul, blues, and 70s rock with a strong guitar-driven edge. Their warm and compelling vocals are soulful and evoke comparisons to Paul Rodgers and David Coverdale. Formed in 2008, the trio consisting of vocalist Kev Plant, his son and drummer Aled, and guitarist Andy Cutty has emerged as a significant force in the UK underground rock scene. They have captivated audiences with their live...

Edited and written by Anselm Anderson Shock Rocker MARILYN MANSON has unveiled details about his return to the stage this Autumn for the second leg of the One Assassination Under God Tour. The ticket presale starts on April 2nd at 10:00AM local time. General public tickets are available on April 4th at 10:00AM local time at https://www.marilynmanson.com/ . The singer is returning for his first headlining world tour in six years, announcing a tour that will include over thirty dates. It will kick off on August 7th in Sturgis, SD, at The Buffalo Chip. Following his shows across the US, he will perform in the seaside towns of Brighton and Bournemouth in England this October. The 'Disposable Teens' singer will also visit Manchester, London, and Nottingham before continuing to Europe. The tour will cover several countries, including France, Czechia, Poland, and Italy, ultimately concluding in Lisbon, Portugal on November 30th. The singer recently released his 12th studio album, ...

Photo Credit: Anabel D'Flur Edited by Anselm Anderson World-renowned Horror Rocker  WEDNESDAY 1 3 returns with the second single "In Misery", taken from his new full-length album , Mid Death Crisis , released on April 25, 2025, via N apalm Records.  Currently touring across North America on his "There's No Such Thing As Monsters" tour, celebrating 20 years of Transylvania 90210, the follow-up to acclaimed,latest single "When The Devil Commands”, "In Misery" blends goth-punk and sleaze metal with heavy genre influences.   WEDNESDAY 13 comments about "In Misery": "There are too many love songs out there about people confessing their love to one another. I wanted to do the exact opposite, and confess the misery of being in a bad relationship. Hopelessly, madly in misery with someone. I see it every day, people miserable together. I see it almost as much as I see people happily together. Some people enjoy misery, and this song is a...

  Words by Anselm Anderson  Decrepit Youths  is the latest band to gain popularity in the UK. This Newcastle-based quartet of rap metal musicians released their three-track debut EP, "Love Psycho Kill Machine", last week as an independent project. Formed in 2023, they quickly gained widespread airplay on BBC Radio One as part of the channel's Introducing series. The band features a dynamic vocal partnership between David Stoker and Connor Pattison, accompanied by bassist Tim Gambles and drummer Thomas Lee. They now offer a preview of their high-octane, aggressive sound. The group isn’t shy about tackling themes such as drug and alcohol use, as highlighted in the opening track "Love Psycho Kill Machine." This song is a burst of rapid rap verses layered over gritty guitars and distorted monologues, evoking the chaos of a very messy night out. Photo courtesy of San PR The chaotic and dysfunctional sound continues with "Black Dove," which features a combi...

    Bournefest 2025  have announced the full Lineup for their upcoming Festival on Saturday, October 18th in Sittingbourne, Kent.  Bournefest has welcomed some of the best in Blues, Rock & Roots for the past six years since 2019.  Rockin' Roots Events presents the festival with a declaration "for another sensational lineup of National and International Acts", according to the supplementary press release  Promoter of Rockin Roots Events,  Mark Matthews c omments on the event : “I am massively looking forward to hosting Bournefest 2025. Bournefest stands each year as a prominent fixture on our calendar for The Bourne Music Club . Each year delivering a lineup of exceptional national and international talent. This October marks 10 years since I started promoting live music, and we are celebrating the occasion with an absolutely awesome schedule of events. Bournefest 2025 will feature a compelling lineup of quality talent. Some of the acts announced i...

  Words by Anselm Anderson If Cradle of Filth were to write love songs, "The Screaming of Valkyries" may be the closest they will get. The Dark overlords of the Death Metal underworld return with their fourteenth studio effort, released via Napalm Records today. The quintet collaborates again on their follow-up to 2021's "Existence is Futile" by revisiting old ghosts from the past and blending them with a modern sound. This nine-track mini-album is a chance to see the direction Cradle of Filth aims for in the future. The combination of traditional heavy metal styles with blackened thrash, symphonic elements, and gothic influences demonstrates that the band still has plenty of creativity left in the engine. Dani Filth brings his iconic screams and growls over atmospheric tracks like a demonic storyteller sitting down to regale old tales of witches, ghosts and demons. The intense dual guitar work from guitarists Ashok and Donny Burbage heightens the aggression of ...

 The legendary guitaris t Joe Satriani and Colorado-based artis t David Bonvillain have joined up on a collaborative project to create their third charity guitar. The duo continued the trend they began in 2023 when they donated to Children’s Hospital San Francisco and their second to Guitars4Vets last year.  This year this charity piece is their most impressive to date. The guitar is a new Ibanez JS2480 that was refinished by Joe and David over several weeks.  The guitar took over 40 hours to finish - this guitar features a striking glow-in-the-dark base, layered with a stunning white galaxy design in fluorescent acrylics. Hand-painted by Joe, both the front and back showcase his artistic touch, all sealed under a durable urethane clear coat. The original sustainer was replaced with a black driver/neck pickup, and the guitar has been set up with Stringjoy 9 s for optimal playability. All original Ibanez paperwork and a certificate of authenticity are included ...